Folding bed.



No. 734,363. PATBNTED JULY 21, 1903,

A. w. PYLE. FOLDING BED.

APPLIUATION FILED JANNRQ, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VE N 70/? 20 9752267" Pyle.

ATTOHN 8 No. 734,363. PATENTED JULY 21, 1903. A. w. PYLE.

. FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION-FILED JAN. 29, 1902;

PATIJII'I'IEII) JULY 21, 1903.

A. W. PYLE.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1902.

INVENTOR- 2752267 @le *3 Q B'/ WITNESSES:

A TTOHNEYS Prrns cu. wvraum o" wunmsTo PATENTED JULY 2-1, 1903.

A. W. PYLE.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES A TTOHNE YS "Patented July 21, 1903;

PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER W.-PYLi1, or HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,363, dated July 21,1903. Application filed January 1902. Serial No. 91,772. (No modeLl v Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that LABNER W. PYLE, acitizen of the United States, and aresident of Hopkinsville, in the county of Christian and State ofKentucky, have invented an Improvement in Folding Beds, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to impr'ovementsin folding beds of that class,wherein a noncollapsible bed-frame is pivotally supported in a cabinet;and the primary object that I have in view is the provision of aportable structure which may be easily taken apart to facilitate storageand transportation and which may be assembled together for the severalparts to occupy a solid firm relation to each other. I

A further object of the invention is to combine with the pivotedbed-frame a counterpoise mechanism which occupies such a pe- .culiarrelation thereto as to subserve a twofold purpose-i. e., as a means tobalance the bed-frame when it is being raised and when in its closedposition and as'ameans for positively forcing the bed-frame to itsfully-lowered position during the operationof opening the bed and alsoof positively locking the frame in its lowered position, thuseffectuallyov-ercoming any tendencyof the bedframe to rise or foldaccidentally.

A further object is to fold the doors'of the cabinet entirely out of theway when the bed is in use; further, to secure ventilation of thecabinet, which is particularly desirable in warm weather, and tosimplify the construction and to promote efficiency in the service ofthe structure.

' With these ends in view the invention consists in the novelcombination, construction, and arrangement of parts which will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings,forminga part of thisspecification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding partsin all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a folding bed in its open conditionand constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig.2 is a vertical central section through the folding bed in its closed-upcondition. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the horizontal planeindicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective.

order that they may be compactly arranged for storage or transportation.Fig. 5 is a detail sectional perspective view showing one means fordetachably interlocking the capsection and a side section ofthe-knockdown;

cabinet which forms one part of theimproved folding bed. Fig. 6 'is'asimilar perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the means forinterlocking the back frame orsection and a side member or section tothe base-section of the knockdown cabinet. Fig. 7 is a side' elevation,on a small scale, of a modified construction of the front portion "ofthe cabinet.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view illustrating a part of the backmember of the cabinet and the slidable headboard to showone keeper andthe notch through which the keeper may'pass'in removingthe headboard.Fig. 9 is a detailview showing the pivotal and detachable connectionbetween a portion of the pivoted bed-frame and the intermedi ateheadboard-section. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the improved foldingbed, showing an arrangement of the counterpoise-weights by which theinertia of different weights may be successively taken up or imposed onthe bed-frame. Fig.'1l.is a detail cross-section showing the headboardpartly raised to take up one of the weights or one weight of'each of twogroups of corresponding form, thebedframe being supposed to be nearlyraised."

F' g. 12 is another cross-section with the headboard in its raisedposition, assuming that view through a portion of one side member is therails b, a foot-piece b, and a head-piece b and within this openskeleton frame is stretched the wire mattress D, or, if desired,

any other suitable form of bed-bottom may be employed. This bed-frame ispivotally supported at a point intermediate of its length in the lowerpart of the casing or cabinet A, and as one means of supporting theinner or lower end of said bed-frame I have provided the hinge-rod 5,the same extending transversely across the lower front part of thecabinet A and fitting in the inclined notches 6, the latter beingprovided in the side rails b of the bed-frame B. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)The hinge-rod 5 is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 as extendingtransversely of the cabinet A, and this rod should have its end portionsloosely received in suitable openings or other supports, which areprovided in the side members of the cabinet, whereby the rod may bewithdrawn from the cabinet and from engagement with the notches 6 of thebed-frame, thus making provision for dismounting or removing thebed-frame from the cabinet when it is desired to dis mantle the foldingbed for storage or transportation purposes.

The outer end portion of the bed-frame B is equipped with the foldablelegs 7, the same being pivotally attached to the bed-frame, as indicatedat 8 in Fig. 2, and said legs being united or tied together by thecross-bar 9. (Also shown in Fig. 2.)

To prevent the notched bed-frame from slipping out of engagement withthe hingerod 5 during the operation of raising or lowering saidbed-frame, I have provided the keepers or retaining-springs 10. The saidsprings are fastened to the inner opposing faces of the side rails 19 ofthe bed-frame, and the free ends of said springs are bent or arranged toextend across the notches 6, whereby said ends of the springs may engagewith the hingerod 5, as shown by Fig. 2.

I will now proceed to describe the construction of the cabinet or casingA, which, it is de sired to remark, has its several parts connecteddetachably together in a manner to facilitate assemblage or dismantlingof the cabinet. This cabinet consists of the base-section at, the cap ortop section or member a, the two side members or sections a a (see Fig.3,) and the back section or frame Q The side members a a have theirlower ends fitted within the side portions of the basesection a, saidside members a at having their lower extremities a seated upon thebottom portion of the base-section a. (See Fig. 2.) These side sectionsa a are provided with the fastening-plates 11, which are provided withthe notches 12, and in assembling the side sections within thebase-section these notched plates 11 are arranged to engage with thestuds 13, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereby the lower endportions of the side members have interlocking engagement with thebase-section a. An upstanding front piece 14 is provided on thebase-section a, to sustain the shelf 15, the latter resting upon saidfront piece, as shown by Fig. 2.

This shelf 15 is provided on its under face with the fasteners 16, thatare formed with beveled front ends adapted to be received in recesses,which are formed in said upstanding front piece 14, as shown by saidFig. 2'. The shelf 15 is placed in position by turning it at an angle tothe front piece 14 in order that the beveled ends of the fasteners 16may enter the notches of said front piece, and the side members a athaving been previously placed on the base-section this shelf is presseddownwardly, so that the rear edge of the shelf binds against the frontedges of the side members, whereby the shelf is held by the fasteners 16against forward displacement relative to the front piece 14, and theshelf is thus adapted to similarly hold the side members a a againstdisplacement in a like direction.

The back frame or section a is skeletonized, as indicated more clearlyby Fig. 4, and this frame is so proportioned that it will fit snugly tothe side members a? a ,as shown by Fig. 3, and within the base a. Thisback frame or section is designed to have interlocking engagement withthe side members a a and the base-section a, and as one means foraccomplishing this end I have shown said back frame or section a ashaving the notched or slotted plates 17, which are fastened to the sideportions of the frame, so as to fit within the side members a a and tohave engagement with the studs 18, the latter being fastened to the sidemembers. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 6.) Any suitable form of latch may beemployed to fasten the back frame or section a to the base member a,but, as shown by Figs. 2 and 6, pivoted hooks 19 on the back frame a arearranged to engage with eyes 20, that are attached to the basesection a.

The top member a may be of any fanciful or suitable construction, and itis provided with the slots 21, (see Fig. 4,) adapted to receive theupstanding hook-shaped catches 22, as also shown by Fig. 5. After theside mem bers a 0. and the back member a shall have been assembled andinteterlocked the capsection a is fitted upon the other members of thecabinet, so that the catches 22 will fit in the slots 21, and thesecatches are then turned crosswise of the slots in a manner to securelyhold the cap-section upon the cabinet. Of course it is obvious thatother forms of locking devices may be adopted without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The side members a a of the cabinet are provided with the doors 23, thesame being hinged thereto, as at 24. In warm weather the doors may beopened to the position indicated partly by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thusallowing a circulation of air around the head of the occupant of thebed.

The cabinet which I propose to employ somewhat resembles the structureknown in this art as a wardrobe, although the finish and ornamentationof the cabinet may be varied within the skill of the constructor.

In orderto employ a simpleand comparatively cheap construction of thebed-frame and to secure amore ornate finish of the cabinet, I prefer toconstruct the cabinet with the sectional and foldable front, one form ofwhich is shown by Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and

another form is represented, on a reduced the wings 27 made fasttherewith, so as to extend laterally therefrom, and to the wing of eachpost or column is hinged, as'at 29, one of the doors 28. The two columns26 of the front are mounted to turn on vertical axes, which are afiordedby the pintles 30,

(indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3,) and these posts or columnsare arranged just in front of the side members a a of the cabinet A. Inthe folded position of the parts (shown by Figs. 2 and 3) the columns 2526 are turned for the wings 27. to extend inwardly toward each other,and the doors 28are disposed in the alined relation to one another andto the wings, as shown by Fig. 3. Any

. suitable catch may be employed to hold the doors in their. closedpositions. In order .to use the bed, the doors are released and swungopen. Thedoors may open as far as the position shown by Fig. 1, ortheposts 25 26 may be turned around on their vertical axes to make thewings 27 occupy the rearwardlyprojecting positions alongside of thecabinet shown by the dotted linesin Fig. 3, whereby the doors 28 may beopened to extend rearwardly of the cabinet,- as indicated partly bydotted lines.in-Fig. 3, thus entirely opening the front of the cabinetand disposing the doors wholly out of the way.

In the modified construction shown by Fig. 7 I employ the two rockingposts 25 26, each of which is equipped with a wing 27; but in lieu ofthe two-doors which are hinged individually to the wings of-the twoposts I employ a single door 31, that is hinged at 31 to the wing of thepost 25, the said door adapted to occupy an alined or abutting relationwith the wing 27 of the post 26*.

I will now proceed to describe the slidable I headboard O, which is.mounted to move in a vertical path upon the back frame or section a ofthe cabinet. Any suitable means may be adoptedv for slidably confiningthe headboard in place; but in'the knockdown portable construction ofthe folding bed con,- templated by this invention I prefer to formnotches 32 in-the back framed, said notches providing for-the passage ofthe keepers 33.

These keepers are fastened to the slidableheadboard O in positions toride against the back frame a, while the headboard itself travelsagainst the front side of the backframe, as shown by Fig. 3; but when itis'desired to remove theheadboard C from the cabinet it is adjusted to araised position 'in order to bring the keepers 33 opposite to thenotches 32,Ithus permitting the headboard to be moved laterally in orderto withdraw the keepers through'the notches. This headboard is providedin its back with a chamber or recess 0, across which extends theconfining-bar c. The recess or chamber of the headboard is adapted toreceive one or a series of counterweights, the same being indicated bythe reference-letter D. These counterweights are fitted in the chamberso as to be held in place by the bar c, and, if desired, any one or moreof the counterweights may be-removed or placed in position, according tothe load on the pivoted bed-frame B.

I employ an intermediate hinged connection between the weightedheadboard and the pivoted bed-frame By reference to Fig: 2 it will beseen that the bed-frame B is hinged by the rod 5 at a point intermediateof its length, so as to form a short section at the inner lower end ofthe bed-frame, which short section corresponds to the short arm'of alever. In opening or'closing the bed the short section describes an arcof a circle the axis of which is the rod 5. The headboard C'is limitedto travel in a vertical path on the back frame or section of thecabinet, and the distance between the rod 5 and the headboard C isgreater than the short arm or section at the inner lower end of thepivoted bed-frame. The intermediate hinged connection betweenthe'bed-frame and the headboard 'is'representedby Fig. 2in the form of asupplemental headboard E, the latter having a hinged'connection, as ate, to the lower edge of the headboard and a pivotal and detachableconnection with the head-section b of the pivoted bed frame. Thisdetachable and pivotal connection is formed by notched plates 35, whichare fastened to the end portions of the section E and are adapted toengage suitable studs 35 provided on the head-section b. The'intermediate section E is adapted to assumedifferent positions withrelationto the slidable frame lies in a horizontal position, while theintermediate section E occupies an inclined position between thevertically-slidable head-.

board 0 and said head-section b thus'impos ing the weight of theweighted head-section 0 upon the bed-frame to keep the latter in itsclosed position. In lowering the bed-frame B sufficient force must beexerted thereon to overcome the inertia of the weighted headboard O, andduring the first half of the movement in lowering the bed-frame the headsection b approaches the pathof the head board 0, thus making theintermediate sec tion E assume a-position in line with the head-sectionb of the bed-frame. ering movement of the bed-frame continues, however,the head-section 12 thereof is carried away from the path ofthe'slidable head- As the low board, and during the last portion of thelowering movement of the bed-frame the intermediate section E assumes anabrupt angular relation to the head-section b of the bedframe and theheadboard 0, whereby the weight of the headboard is applied to thehinged bed-frame in a manner to positively force the latter to itslowered position and to lock said bed-frame in said lowered position,thus overcoming any tendency of the bedframe to tilt in an upwarddirection. The detachable connection between the intermediate section Eand the bed-frame, which is afiorded by the plates 35, allows thebedframe to be readily disconnected from the headboard when it isdesired to dismantle the folding bed for storage or transportation.

Although'I have shown and described the intermediate section E betweenthe headboard and the bed-frame, I do not desire to limit myself to thisparticular construction, because I am aware that the solid piece may beomitted and suitable links or rods may be employed at the side portionsof the headboard and the bed-frame. I have not considered it necessaryto illustrate these links or rods, because the construction thereof willbe evident to a skilled mechanic.

In Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, I have represented a preferred embodimentof means whereby the inertia of the counterpoise may be imposedgradually upon the bed-frame in the operation of lowering the latter.The devices in this form of the invention are generically the same asheretofore described and include the cabinet A, the slidable headboardC, having the keeper-bar a, the bedframe, and the intermediateconnection E. The weights D, however, are of different lengths, and theyare preferably disposed in two groups-one on each side of the middle ofthe headboardso as better to distribute the weight. The back frame a ofthe cabinet is provided with a rest or cross bar 37, which is so placedthat the weights D will rest thereon and be sustained thereby when thebed-frame is raised. (See Fig. 10.) The weights D are provided withshoulders D and the weights are of difierent lengths, (see Figs. 10 to12,) so that the shoulders lie at difierent distances from the rest-bar37. The headboard O is provided with a cross-bar 38 at or near the lowerend,and the shoulders D of the weights lie in the path of the cross-barwhen the bedthe bed-frame the weights are gradually taken 0% theheadboard because they will rest successively on the bar 37. I alsocontemplate the provision of rollers, as at 39, (see Figs. 2, 11, and12,) whichare mounted on the headboard O and are arranged to travelagainst the back frame a of the cabinet, thus decreasing the frictionand insuring easy movement of the parts.

Instead of arranging the fasteners 17 for the back frame and the sidesin positions where they are visible on the inside of the cabinet, as inFig. 2, I may place said fasteners 1'7 and their studs 18 on the back orrear wall of the cabinet (see Fig. 10) or in any other convenientposition where they will not be exposed to View.

I may provide a single notch 32 in the back frame of the cabinet tofacilitate the removal of the headboard when desired.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a folding bedstead,the combination of a cabinethaving a weight-supporting bar, a headboard slidable in said cabinet, aweight pick-up rail movable with the headboard, a series of graduatedweights resting on said bar and provided with shoulders which lie in thepath of the pick-up rail, for successively imposing said weights on theheadboard during the upward movement of the latter, and a bed-frameconnected with said headboard.

2. In a folding bedstead, the combination of a cabinet, a headboardslidable therein, a weight-pick-u p railattached to the headboard formovement therewith, a bed-frame connected with the headboard, and twoseries of graduated weights supported in vertical positions within thecabinet near the respective sides thereof, each series of weights havingshoulders disposed at different heights and all the shoulders lying inthe path of the pick-up rail for successively imposing like weights ofeach series on the headboard in the upward movement thereof.

3. In a folding bedstead, the combination of an open front cabinetprovided with vertical guides at its rear portion, a non-collapsiblebed-frame within the open front thereof, a headboard slidable in theguides of the cabinet, a leaf connected pivotally to the headboard andthe bed-frame, the rocking posts pivoted in the top and bottom portionsof the cabinet on opposite sides of the path of the bed-frame, and eachhaving a narrow rigid wing adapted to be folded backwardly against thesides of the cabinet, and doors hinged to said wings of the rockingposts.

4. In a folding bed, a knockdown cabinet having the side members fittedremovably in the base-section, and a locking-shelf having interlockingengagement with the base-section and wedged between the latter and theside members for holding said side members firmly in place on saidbase-section, combined with a bed-frame, and means for detachablyconnecting said bed-frame to the cabinet.

5. In a folding bed, a knockdown cabinet comprising a base, top and sidemembers, a skeletonized back having vertical guides, a locking-railwedged between the base and the side members, and fasteners connectingthe several parts firmly and detachably together, the whole forming aclosed structure which is open at the front side thereof, combined witha non-collapsible bed-frame pivotally and detachably connected to thecabinet at a point in rear of the open front side thereof, saidbed-frame being adjustable through the open front of the cabinet tohorizontal and vertical positions, and a counterpoised headboardslidably fitted in the back member and connected operativel y with theinner end of said bed-frame.

6. A folding bed having a cabinet, a bedframe pivotally and removablysupported therein, a headboard slidably and removably mounted in saidoabinet,an intermediateleaf permanently hinged to the headboard,'studsor pins fixed to the sides of the bed-frame at the inner end thereof,and plates attached to front rail having a detachable interlockingengagement with the base and engaging frictionally with the side membersfor holding them firmly in place, and a post mounted in the front railand the top and carrying a door,

combined with a bed-frame, and a counter-- poised headboard.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence-of two subscribing Witnesses.

v ABNER W. PYLE. Witnesses:

W. S. DAVISON,

W. O; HALL.

